Dental instrument shield

ABSTRACT

A dental instrument shield for shielding medical or dental instruments, as well as industrial tools and equipment, which, due to position and configuration, may accidentally pierce or contact tissue and cause injury. In a preferred embodiment the dental instrument shield includes a curved, transparent, protective guard adjustably supported on parallel support rods mounted on an instrument support bar which is attached to a console or other supporting surface. An instrument tray may be mounted in adjustable relationship on the curved guard and the guard is designed to extend over the various handpieces containing dental instruments, to prevent accidental contact with the dental instruments. The various handpieces are typically removably supported in handpiece receptacles of various design for convenient access. The protective guard may alternatively be secured directly to a console or other supporting surface by means of a bracket or otherwise and may be shaped to partially and adjustably enclose one or more handpieces.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to the shielding of dental instruments and dentalhandpieces, as well as industrial tools and equipment and moreparticularly, to a dental instrument shield which is designed to preventthe transfer of communicable diseases by shielding the various medicalor dental instruments mounted on dental handpieces. These instrumentsmay accidentally wound a dentist, dental technician or assistant or apatient due to normal handpiece position and location in the dentaloffice. The dental instrument shield of this invention is characterizedby a transparent or opaque guard of selected size, which, in a firstpreferred embodiment, is transparent and curved from front to rear andadjustably mounted on a pair of vertical support rods which areadjustably attached to a common support bar secured to a console orother fixture. Alternatively, the guard may be flat or angulated,depending upon the configuration of the instrument, tool or equipment tobe protected. An instrument tray constructed of any desired material maybe adjustably secured to the transparent guard for receiving variousinstruments used by the dentist or technician. The front portion of theguard extends over one or more handpieces to shield the various dentalinstruments mounted in the handpieces and prevent accidental contactbetween the dentist, technician or patient. The handpiece or handpiecesare supported in handpiece receptacles of various designs.

Certain dental instruments such as dental drills, probes and other sharptools may be incorporated in dental handpieces which are normally seatedin receptacles in a dental console. These instruments may becontaminated with a patient's saliva, and often blood, during the courseof normal dental procedures and since they are normally uncovered andexposed when not used, the instruments are capable of piercing tissue ifthe dentist's chairside assistant or patient inadvertently contactsthem. The various drills, probes and other dental instruments arepotentially lethal, since the blood residue may contain such viruses ashepatitis and AIDS.

While many different console designs have been developed for supportinghandpieces containing various dental instruments, few, if any, of theseconsoles incorporate a guard feature for preventing inadvertent contactbetween the dental instruments and the dentist, the dental assistant orthe patient. The nature of using conventional dental handpieces dictatesthat the handpieces be located within easy reach, readily available foruse by the dentist and therefore unimpeded by any obstruction.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Various types of dental equipment and apparatus are known in the art. Anearly unitary dental apparatus is detailed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,261,036,dated Oct. 28, 1941, to O. H. Pieper. The Pieper dental apparatusincludes a cabinet designed to enclose a handpiece and dentalinstrument, the door of which cabinet is secured in position by anelaborate system of pulleys and a counterweight to facilitate easyopening and closing. A "Dental Equipment Stand" is detailed in U.S. Pat.No. 3,280,458, dated Oct. 25, 1966, to H. U. Deeley, Jr., et al. Thestand features various linkages and mechanisms to facilitate convenientaccess to various dental instruments attached thereto. Another "DentalConsole " is detailed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,718,972, dated Mar. 6, 1973, toS. S. Fox, et al. The Fox et al, console includes a pair of doors whichopen to access a dental instrument tray which is mounted on drawerextensions, such that the tray can be extended a selected distance foreasy access by a dentist or technician. U.S. Pat. No. 4,231,737, datedNov. 4, 1980, to J. Groen, details an "Apparatus for RemovablySupporting at Least One Medical, Particularly Dental Instrument, Such AsA Dental Drill or the Like". The apparatus includes a box provided witha holder for containing one or more dental instruments and a supply tubeconnected to the box. A device for automatically retracting the tube atleast partially into the box is also included. A "Priority System DentalInstrument Delivery" is detailed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,351,634, dated Sep.28, 1982, to W. Rosenfeldt, which dental delivery unit includes a numberof dental instruments in nests. Upon selection, a nest is extended andcarries its instruments to the dentist's proximity. The selection isaccomplished by a priority system and associated with each nest is aswitch, the activation of which starts a selection period by thepriority system. At the end of the selection period the nestcorresponding to the last activated switch is extended by the prioritysystem.

It is an object of this invention to provide a shield constructed of anydesired material which is designed to prevent the transfer ofcommunicable diseases by shielding various tools and equipment,including medical or dental instruments that, due to position andconfiguration, may accidentally contact or pierce tissue and causeinjury.

Another object of the invention is to provide an adjustable, versatiledental instrument shield which is capable of shielding one or moredental handpieces and sharp instruments inserted in the handpieces, toprevent inadvertent piercing injury and/or viral transmission due toaccidental contact with the dental instrument or instruments.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a new and improvedcurved, transparent and adjustable dental instrument shield forprotecting the dental hygienist, assistant, dentist and patient fromaccidental injury due to contact with various tools and equipment,including sharp dental instruments, which dental instrument shield iscapable of being adjustably or permanently mounted on substantially anydental console or support.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a multi-directionallyadjustable shield which is characterized by a curved, opaque ortransparent guard adjustably or fixedly mounted on a pair ofupward-standing support rods, which support rods are either connecteddirectly to a fixed object such as a dental console or to a support barattached to the fixed object or console, wherein the shield extendsforwardly of or over one or more dental handpieces or other tool ortools or equipment and the sharp dental instruments projecting from thehandpieces, to guard the dental instruments from accidental contact byan operator, including a dentist, dental assistant or hygienist andpatient.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

These and other objects of the invention are provided in a new andimproved multi-directionally adjustable dental instrument shield whichis characterized by a curved, transparent guard adapted to extend overone or more dental instruments located in dental handpieces and supportmembers attached to the guard in adjustable relationship for mountingthe guard on a dental console or other support. In a preferredembodiment, a dental tray is adjustably mounted on the guard to locatevarious dental instruments in close proximity to the dentist or dentalassistant and specially designed instrument clips receive the variousdental handpieces for location beneath the guard.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be better understood by reference to the accompanyingdrawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the dentalinstrument shield of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an alternative preferred embodiment ofthe dental instrument shield, wherein the guard element is mounteddirectly on a dental console;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a third preferred embodiment of thedental instrument shield of this invention, also mounted on a dentalconsole;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a universal bracket for securing thedental instrument shield on a dental console in an alternative mountingconfiguration;

FIG. 5 is an alternative stud button bracket for securing the dentalinstrument shield to a console;

FIG. 6 is a side view of the universal bracket illustrated in FIG. 4, inmounted configuration;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of yet another preferred embodiment of thedental instrument shield of this invention;

FIG. 8 is a side view, partially in section, of the dental instrumentshield illustrated in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a perspective, exploded view of a preferred handpiece mountfor use with the dental instrument shield of this invention;

FIG. 10 is a sectional view, taken along line 10--10, of the handpiecemount illustrated in FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a mounting wedge used to orient theguard element of the dental instrument shield at a desired attitude;

FIG. 12 is a side view of a first preferred technique for mounting theguard element in a forward-leaning configuration using a pair ofmounting wedges illustrated in FIG. 11; and

FIG. 13 is a side view of a second preferred technique for mounting theguard element in a rearward-leaning configuration using a pair of themounting wedges illustrated in FIG. 11.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring initially to FIG. 1 of the drawings, in a first preferredembodiment of the invention the dental instrument shield of thisinvention is generally illustrated by reference numeral 1. The dentalinstrument shield 1 includes a front-to-rear curved guard 2, having arear segment 3 extending from a rear segment edge 4 and curving upwardlyto define a top segment 5 and subsequently downwardly, to define a frontsegment 6, which terminates in a front segment edge 7. An instrumenttray 11 is optionally mounted on the curved guard 2 by means of a pairof spaced tray supports 8, one of which is illustrated in FIG. 1. Eachof the tray supports 8 is characterized by a tray support slot 9, whichengages the outer curved edge of the curved guard 2 near the top segment5, respectively, to facilitate slidable movement of the instrument tray11 along the outside edges of the curved guard 2. In a first preferredembodiment, the instrument tray 11 is attached to the tray supports 8 bymeans of tray legs 12, illustrated in phantom, which are inserted incorresponding seats (not illustrated) provided in the tray supports 8.The rear segment edge 4 and the bottom portion of the rear segment 3 ofthe curved guard 2 are inserted in vertically-oriented mount block slots14, provided in a pair of spaced guard mount blocks 13, as furtherillustrated in FIG. 1, in order to support the curved guard 2 in theillustrated configuration. The horizontal legs 18 of a pair of spacedsupport rods 16 project through a horizontal opening (not illustrated)provided in each of the the guard mount blocks 13 and each support rod16 is shaped to define a support rod bend 17 and a vertical leg 19projecting downwardly from the support rod bend 17. Each vertical leg 19projects from a corresponding support rod bend 17 in spaced relationshipdownwardly through a vertical opening (not illustrated) provided in eachone of a pair of spaced support rod mounts 20, one of which isillustrated in FIG. 1. Each of the support rod mounts 20 is providedwith a horizontal rod mount slot 21, for receiving the frontal barsegment 25 of a horizontal instrument support bar 23. The instrumentsupport bar 23 is further characterized by spaced support bar bends 24,one of which is illustrated in FIG. 1, and rear bar segments 26 extendfrom the support bar bends 24 and are secured to a dental console orother support (not illustrated). Three handpiece receptacles 27 aremounted in sliding spaced relationship on the frontal bar segment 25 ofthe instrument support bar 23 and are each provided with a verticalreceptacle mount slot 28 for receiving a separate conventional handpiece29. Each handpiece 29 is fitted with a handpiece grip 30, having aconnecting cord 31 extending from the base thereof and a dentalinstrument 32 is attached to the opposite end of two of the handpieces29. The third handpiece 29 is fitted with a nozzle 22, for irrigatingthe mouth during the various dental procedures. As heretofore described,the rear bar segments 26 which extend rearwardly in spaced, parallelrelationship beneath the curved guard 2, may be fitted with a variety offittings, brackets or other connecting implements (not illustrated) tosecure the dental instrument shield 1 to a dental console or alternativesupport (not illustrated), according to the knowledge of those skilledin the art.

Referring now to FIG. 2 of the drawings, in another preferred embodimentof the invention the curved guard 2 is mounted directly to the consoleflange 33a of a conventional dental instrument console 33, by means of apair of slot bolts 2b, which extend through vertical, parallel, spacedguard slots 2a, located in the rear segment 3 of the curved guard 2. Ina preferred embodiment, a washer 2c is located between the bolt head ofeach slot bolt 2b and the guard slot 2a as illustrated, to facilitate amore secure, yet vertically-adjustable mount in each of the guard slots2a. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2, the curved guard 2 isdesigned to partially enclose a handpiece 29 which is seated in thereceptacle mount slot 28 of a handpiece receptacle 27, secured directlyto the instrument console 33. Accordingly, it will be recognized bythose skilled in the art that under circumstances where one or morehandpieces 29 are mounted in the handpiece receptacles 27 locateddirectly on the instrument console 33, the curved guard 2 may beinstalled such that the front segment 6 and front segment edge 7 of thecurved guard 2 project forwardly of the dental instrument 32, mounted inthe top end of the handpiece 29, in order to protect the dentist, dentaltechnician or assistant and patient from inadvertently contacting thedental instrument 32.

Referring now to FIG. 3 of the drawings, in yet another preferredembodiment of the invention the dental instrument shield 1 ischaracterized by a curved guard 2 mounted in a pair of spaced guardmount blocks 13, as illustrated in FIG. 1. However, the spaced,downwardly-extending vertical legs 19 are each seated in an opening (notillustrated) provided in a bracket pin 35, located in a console bracket34, wherein a bracket pin mount 36 carries the bracket pin 35 andsecures the bracket pin 35 to the sides, respectively, of an instrumentconsole 33. An allen screw 38 may be threadably seated in the consolebracket 34 for contacting the vertical legs 19 and facilitating verticaladjustment of the support rods 16 and the curved guard 2, as deemednecessary. Similarly, referring again to FIGS. 1 and 3 of the drawings,allen screws 38 may also be provided in the respective guard mountblocks 13, as hereinafter further described, to facilitate tightening ofthe guard mount blocks 13 on the horizontal legs 18 of the support rods16. This feature allows pivotal adjustment of the curved guard 2 withrespect to the support rod 16, as further hereinafter described.Referring again to FIG. 3 of the drawing, the conventional instrumentconsole 33 is provided with vertically spaced console slots 33b, whichare designed to receive and seat various handpieces 29 for access by thedentist or dental technician. Accordingly, the curved guard 2 is mountedon the instrument console 33 such that the front segment 6 and frontsegment edge 7 may be pivoted downwardly over the dental instrument 32mounted in the handpiece 29, to protect the dentist, dental technicianor assistant and patient from contact with the dental instrument 32.

Referring now to FIGS. 4 and 6 of the drawings, in yet another preferredembodiment of the invention the curved guard 2 may be mounted directlyto an instrument console 33 by means of a universal bracket 39. Theuniversal bracket 39 is characterized by a slot leg 40, fitted with abracket slot 41 and a stud leg 42, projecting from the slot leg 40 in 90degree relationship, as illustrated. A threaded stud 43 projectsoutwardly from the stud leg 42 and is designed to receive a lock nut 44,as illustrated in FIG. 6, after extension through an opening 10,provided in the rear segment 3 of the curved guard 2, to secure thecurved guard 2 to the stud leg 42. The slot leg 40 of one or moreuniversal brackets 39 can then be mounted to the instrument console 33in a desired location using suitable fasteners (not illustrated), asfurther illustrated in FIG. 6, to position the curved guard 2 over oneor more handpieces 29 (not illustrated).

Referring now to FIG. 5 of the drawings, in yet another preferredembodiment of the invention one or more stud buttons 45 can be used tosecure the curved guard 2 directly to an instrument console 33. Eachstud button 45 is characterized by a button base 45a, fitted with anadhesive 46 on the bottom thereof and having a threaded stud 43projecting from the opposite side of the button base 45a. Accordingly,the adhesive 46 can be attached to a dental console or other support(not illustrated) in a desired location and the threaded stud 43projected through the opening 10, located in the rear segment 3 of thecurved guard 2, in the same manner as illustrated in FIG. 6. A lock nut44 is then threaded on the stud 43, in order to secure the curved guard2 on the stud buttons 45.

Referring now to FIGS. 11-13 of the drawings, the attitude of the curvedguard 2 may be adjusted when the curved guard 2 is mounted directly tothe instrument console 33, by using two pairs of mounting wedges 47,each of which is characterized by a tapered wedge face 48, a wedge base49 and a fastener opening 50. Accordingly, as illustrated in FIGS. 12and 13, under circumstances where the rear segment 3 of the curved guard2 is attached directly to an instrument console 33 using the slot bolts2b, illustrated in FIG. 2, the universal bracket 39, illustrated inFIGS. 4 and 6, or the stud buttons 45, illustrated in FIG. 5, as well asany other fastener, the curved guard 2 may be tilted forwardly orrearwardly. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 12, a pair of mountingwedges 47 may be oriented as illustrated to tilt the curved guard 2forwardly with respect to a dental instrument console or other support(not illustrated). Alternatively, as illustrated in FIG. 13, theposition of the respective pairs of mounting wedges 47 may be reversed,in order to tilt the curved guard 2 rearwardly with respect to theconsole (not illustrated).

Referring now to FIGS. 9 and 10 of the drawings, in a most preferredembodiment of the invention a tapered clip plug 60 is designed to seatin a conventional tapered handpiece receptacle 62, which may be mountedon the frontal bar segment 25 of the instrument support bar 23illustrated in FIG. 1, to facilitate relocation of the varioushandpieces 29 without removing the respective handpieces 29 from eachclip plug 60. Accordingly, each of the clip plugs 60 is characterized byan instrument clip 51, having a clip base 52 which is secured to theclip plug 20 by means of a clip bolt 55 and fitted with extending setsof clip fingers 53. Each of the clip fingers 53 is separated from acorresponding adjacent clip finger 53 by means of a finger slot 54 andthe clip fingers 53 are designed to removably engage and clamp thehandpieces 29, respectively, such that the handpieces 29 can be quicklyand easily inserted in and removed from the instrument clip 51. The clipfingers 53 are designed to engage a tapered handpiece 29, such that eachof the clip fingers 53 conform to the varying diameter of the handpiece29, in order to better secure the handpiece 29 in the instrument clip51. Accordingly, the finger slot 54 allows each of the clip fingers 53to operate independently of each other and conform to the varyingdiameter under circumstances where the handpieces 29 are tapered at thepoint where they engage the instrument clip 51. As illustrated in FIG.10, each of the conventional tapered handpiece receptacles 62 isprovided with a receptacle mount flange 63, having a mount flangeopening 64, for accommodating the frontal bar segment 25 of theinstrument support bar 23 and mounting the various tapered handpiecereceptacle 62 in spaced relationship on the instrument support bar 23,as illustrated in FIG. 1.

Referring now to FIGS. 7 and 8 of the drawings, in yet another preferredembodiment of the invention a hood 56 is designed to partially enclose asingle handpiece 29 and is characterized by a pair of parallel sideplates 57, connected by a curved top 58 and provided with a rear plate59, which spans the side plates 57. Accordingly, the hood 56 is closedon three sides and open on the front and at the bottom to effect easyremoval of the handpiece 29 and insertion of the handpiece 29 in aninstrument clip 51, secured to a handpiece receptacle 27. Alternatively,the instrument clip 51 may be attached to a clip plug 60, which isadapted for insertion in a conventional tapered handpiece receptacle 62,as illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10. As in the case of the dentalinstrument shield 1 illustrated in FIG. 1, the bottom edge of the rearplate 59 of the hood 56 is slidably inserted in the mount block slot 14of a guard mount block 13, which guard mount block 13 is pivotallymounted on a vertically-oriented support rod 16 by means of an allenscrew 38. The bottom end of the support rod 16 is similarly attached tothe handpiece receptacle 27, which handpiece receptacle 27 is, in turn,secured to the frontal bar segment 25 of the instrument support bar 23.Accordingly, the handpiece 29, illustrated in phantom and carrying adental instrument 32, is seated in the instrument clip 51 such that thedental instrument 32 is shielded within the hood 56. Inadvertent contactbetween the dentist, dental assistant or technician or the patient withthe dental instrument 32 is therefore prevented.

Referring again to FIG. 1 of the drawings, it will be appreciated bythose skilled in the art that the curved guard 2 of the dental shieldinstrument 1 is highly versatile, in that it can be adjusted insubstantially any direction to accommodate and shield the various sharpdental instruments 32 mounted on the ends of the respective handpieces29. For example, each of the guard mount blocks 13 may be pivotedforwardly or rearwardly to also pivot the curved guard 2 and extend thefront segment 6 and front segment edge 7 further downwardly or upwardlyas desired, and protect the dentist, dental assistant or technician andthe patient from the dental instruments 32. Furthermore, the curvedguard 2 can be slidably adjusted either to the right or left in therespective mount block slots 14 and the curved guard 2 may be raised orlowered by sliding the vertical legs 19 in the spaced support rod mounts20. Pivotal adjustment of the curved guard 2 on the horizontal legs 18of the support rod 16 may require manipulation of the respective allenscrews (not illustrated) seated in the guard mount blocks 13, to loosenthe connections between the respective guard mount blocks 13 and thehorizontal legs 18. Similarly, vertical adjustment of the curved guard 2may require loosening other allen screws (not illustrated) provided ineach of the support rod mounts 20. As heretofore described, theinstrument tray 11 is slidably adjusted on the outside edges of thecurved guard 2 to allow tilting of the instrument tray 11 forwardlytoward the dentist or away from the dentist, as desired. The curvedguard 2 may also be tilted forwardly and rearwardly by rotating thesupport rod mounts 20 on the frontal bar segment 25 of the instrumentsupport bar 23. Moreover, the respective handpiece receptacles 27 mayalso be fitted with allen screws (not illustrated), to facilitateslidable adjustment of the handpiece receptacles 27 on the frontal barsegment 25. It is understood that various alternative frictional lockingmechanisms, such as thumb screws, clamps of various design and likedevices can be used instead of the allen screws to facilitate adjustmentof the handpiece receptacles 27 on the frontal bar segments 25.

Referring again to FIG. 2 of the drawings, the curved guard 2 isrendered vertically adjustable with respect to the instrument console 33by loosening the respective slot bolts 2b and adjusting the curved guard2 vertically, utilizing the respective parallel guard slots 2a.

As illustrated in FIG. 3 of the drawings, pivotal and slidableadjustment of the curved guard 2 is facilitated by operation of therespective guard mount blocks 13 in the same manner as illustrated inFIG. 1. Furthermore, the curved guard 2 and the support rod 16 can bepivoted forwardly or rearwardly with respect to the instrument console33 by operation of the bracket pin 35, which is pivotally mounted in thebracket pin mount 36. Vertical adjustment of the curved guard 2 is alsofacilitated by loosening the respective allen screws 38, located in thebracket pins 35, and making the desired adjustment.

Referring again to FIGS. 7 and 8 of the drawing, under circumstanceswhere the hood 56 is used to guard a single dental instrument 32 locatedin the corresponding handpiece 29, the hood 56 can be slidably adjustedfrom side to side in the mount block 14 of the guard mount block 13 inthe same manner as heretofore described with respect to the dentalinstrument shield 1 illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3. Vertical and pivotaladjustment is also achieved in the same manner by adjusting the allenscrew 38, threaded in the guard mount block 13, or manipulating anotherallen screw 38 provided in the handpiece receptacle 27. Furthermore, thehood 56 can be tilted forwardly or rearwardly with respect to the dentalinstrument 32 and the handpiece 29, by pivoting the handpiece receptacle27 on the frontal bar segment 25 of the instrument support bar 23.

Referring again to FIG. 1 of the drawing, it will be appreciated thatvarious modifications can be made in the mounting apparatus whichsupports the curved guard 2. For example, horizontal slots (notillustrated) can be provided in the support rod mounts 20 and the rearsegment edge 4 of the curved guard 2 seated in these slots, therebyeliminating the necessity for the guard mount blocks 13 and support rods16. Furthermore, referring to FIGS. 1, 9 and 10, the handpiecereceptacles 27 and the clip plugs 60 can be drilled or otherwise alteredto receive the vertical legs 19 of the support rods 16 and eliminate theneed for the support rod mounts 20. Moreover, the curved guard 2 can bemodified to be incorporated directly into the design of any workingsurface to project over various tools and instruments.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the dentalinstrument shield of this invention, in its various embodiments, offersa versatile and effective means for protecting a dentist, dentalassistant or hygienist, and patient, as well as any other occupant ofthe dental office, from injury and possible blood contamination due toinadvertent contact with a dental tool or instrument. The curved guard 2and hood 56 are preferably characterized by a transparent, plastic platematerial shaped in the desired configuration by techniques which arewell known to those skilled in the art. The curved guard 2 and the hood56 are designed to be mounted on substantially any support, including adental console, regardless of configuration or location, and may beeasily adapted to extend over one or more handpieces 29 for protectivepurposes. The clip plug 60 and instrument clip 51, illustrated in FIGS.9 and 10, provide versatility in mounting handpieces 29 of varieddesign. Moreover, the instrument tray 11, illustrated in FIG. 1, may beconstructed of an autoclavable material, including heat-resistantplastic formulations and stainless steel, in non-exclusive particular,such that both it and instruments located on it can be simultaneouslysterilized. Other features such as sterilizing and disinfecting lightscan also be attached to or placed on the dental instrument shield 1 andlights or light-emitting diodes may be incorporated on the dental shield1, instrument clip 51, clip plug 60 or handpiece receptacle 27,illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, to indicate which handpieces 29 are inuse, for additional safety.

While the dental instrument shield of this invention is designedprimarily to protect a dentist, dental assistant and patient fromunguarded dental instruments, it is understood that the shield canequally well be incorporated in any desired shape and material ofconstruction, into an industrial or working environment where the riskof viral or micro-organism contamination is apparent. Thus, the shieldmay be used in shops and similar environments where many people work andbody fluid contact is possible.

Accordingly, while the preferred embodiments of the invention have beendescribed above, it will be recognized and understood that variousmodifications may be made in the invention and the appended claims areintended to cover all such modifications which may fall within thespirit and scope of the invention.

Having described my invention with the particularity set forth above,what is claimed is:
 1. A dental instrument shield for shielding at leastone dental instrument mounted on an instrument support, said dentalinstrument shield comprising a substantially transparent guard disposedat least partially over the dental instrument; at least one guard mountblock having a mount block slot for slidably receiving one edge of saidguard; at least one support rod pivotally supporting said guard mountblock; and at least one support rod mount attached to said instrumentsupport in pivotal relationship and receiving said support rod, forpivotally mounting said dental instrument shield on said instrumentsupport.
 2. The dental instrument shield of claim 1 further comprising adental console and at least one console bracket provided on the dentalconsole and adapted for engaging said instrument support and mountingsaid instrument support and said dental instrument shield on the dentalconsole.
 3. The dental instrument shield of claim 2 wherein said consolebracket further comprises a universal bracket.
 4. The dental instrumentshield of claim 1 wherein said guard is curved from front to rear andthe front edge of said guard terminates in spaced relationship withrespect to the dental instrument.
 5. The dental instrument shield ofclaim 1 wherein the dental instrument further comprises a single dentalinstrument and said guard further comprises a hood for substantiallyenclosing the single dental instrument.
 6. The dental instrument shieldof claim 5 further comprising a rear panel closing the rear of saidhood, wherein the front and bottom of said hood remain open foraccessing the dental instrument.
 7. The dental instrument shield ofclaim 5 wherein said hood is transparent.
 8. The dental instrumentshield of claim 1 further comprising at least one handpiece receptacleprovided on said instrument support for removably receiving a dentalhandpiece carrying the dental instrument.
 9. The dental instrumentshield of claim 8 further comprising a dental console and a consolebracket provided on the dental console and adapted for engaging saidinstrument support and mounting said instrument support and said dentalinstrument shield on the dental console.
 10. The dental instrumentshield of claim 9 wherein said guard is transparent and curved fromfront to rear and the front edge of said guard terminates in spacedrelationship with respect to the dental instrument.
 11. The dentalinstrument shield of claim 8 further comprising clip means provided onsaid handpiece receptacle for removably engaging and retaining thedental handpiece.
 12. The dental instrument shield of claim 11furthercomprising a dental console and a console bracket provided on the dentalconsole and adapted for engaging said instrument support and mountingsaid instruments support and said dental instrument shield on the dentalconsole and wherein said guard is transparent and curved from front torear and the front edge of said guard terminates in spaced relationshipwith respect to the dental instrument.
 13. The dental instrument shieldof claim 11 wherein said clip means further comprises a clip plug shapedto removably engage said handpiece receptacle and a clip mounted on saidhandpiece receptacle, said clip having two sets of oppositely-disposedclip fingers for removably engaging and retaining the dental handpiece.14. The dental instrument of claim 13further comprising a dental consoleand a console bracket provided on the dental console and adapted forengaging said instrument support and mounting said instrument supportand said dental instrument shield on the dental console and wherein saidguard is transparent and curved from front to rear and the front edge ofsaid guard terminates in spaced relationship with respect to the dentalinstrument.
 15. A dental instrument shield for mounting on a dentalinstrument console and shielding at least one dental instrument, saiddental instrument shield comprising a guard disposed at least partiallyover the dental instrument in shielding relationship; a pair of guardmount blocks, each having a mount block slot for slidably receiving oneedge of the guard in spaced relationship; a pair of support rodspivotally carried by said guard mount blocks in spaced, verticalrelationship; a pair of support rod mounts pivotally attached to saidsupport rods in spaced relationship beneath said guard mount blocks,respectively; an instrument support bar pivotally carried by saidsupport rod mounts in horizontal orientation; and mounting meansprovided on the ends of said instrument support bar for mounting saidinstrument support bar on the dental instrument console.
 16. The dentalinstrument shield of claim 15 wherein said mounting means furthercomprises at least one console bracket provided on the console forengaging said ends of said instrument support bar and mounting saidinstrument support bar on the console.
 17. The dental instrument shieldof claim 15 wherein said mounting means further comprises at least oneuniversal bracket.
 18. The dental instrument shield of claim 15 whereinsaid mounting means further comprises at least one stud button.
 19. Thedental instrument shield of claim 15 wherein said guard is transparentand curved from front to rear and the front edge of said guardterminates in spaced relationship with respect to the dental instrument.20. A dental instrument shield for mounting on a dental instrumentconsole and shielding at least one dental instrument, said dentalinstrument shield comprising a guard disposed at least partially overthe dental instrument in shielding relationship; a pair of slotsvertically disposed in said guard in spaced relationship and fasteningmeans adapted to extend through said slots and into the dentalinstrument console for securing said guard on the dental instrumentconsole and wedge means disposed on at least one side of said guard fortilting said guard in a selected direction.